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Please help me choose between the two. Goals are general corporate work. My thoughts so far:

Deb NY - generally liked the people I met better, great funds group, lockstep comp, heard nothing negative about the firm. I don't mind NY but would rather live in DC.

Skadden DC - weird vibe, might get pigeonholed into a specific practice area. On the other hand, it's DC, so lower COL, some family ties to the city. SO's preferred location.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

I think Skadden DC is an easy choice since you and your SO both prefer DC ... You may be "pigeonholed" into the corporate group but you say that's what you want, so don't see the issue - I think it's small enough compared to NY offices to probably give you more flexibility within the group than you might get elsewhere, so should be fine. It's a great place to be for corporate in DC so don't see any real reason to hesitate picking it

Sorry if too late for your OCI. Made the same choice a few years ago and very happy at Deb NY (Corp), but I think determining factor here is solely location - it was also for me, just in the opposite direction. Since you and your SO would rather live in DC, I vote Skadden. If you're set on corporate and get pigeonholed/can't handle the weird vibe, you'll be competitive to move within DC to other corp shops, and at worst, NY and our larger groups will probably be here for you. If you're not set on corporate, better to be in DC anyway.

If you ended choosing Deb instead - welcome!!